Avery might be gone, but not forgotten in Canwest writers' poll

Sean Avery walks out onto the ice prior to a game aganst the New York Islanders on March 6, 2008 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.Photo by
Mike Stobe

Sean Avery dominated most hockey headlines during the first half of the NHL season, so it was no surprise he was a hot topic in the second annual midseason poll of Canwest hockey writers and columnists.

However, Vancouver’s very own Alex Burrows also caught the eye of those polled, tying with Robyn Regehr of the Calgary Flames as the NHL’s most underrated player.

Other Canucks featuring in the writers' poll were Taylor Pyatt (listed in ‘Player who is the worst quote’) and Alain Vigneault (listed in ‘Coach who is the best quote’).

Avery continues to remain in limbo following his off-colour comments last month that landed him a six-game suspension from the NHL and ultimately had him lose his job with the Dallas Stars.

The forward was — by far — rated the worst offseason free-agent signing by any team, earning 81.8 per cent of the votes. Only New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden received any other votes.

“This is a slam-dunk. When they buy him out in June, he’s going to get $8 million for about two months work and lot of aggravation in Dallas,” said Edmonton Journal writer Jim Matheson. “Good thing [Stars owner] Tom Hicks has lots of money.”

Avery did receive votes as one of the league’s best quotes, while 72.7 per cent of writers believed his suspension was warranted.

The Boston Bruins, by a landslide, were rated the league’s biggest pleasant surprise in the first half, while the Stars edged the Ottawa Senators as the biggest disappointment through the end of 2008.

With the Edmonton Oilers inconsistent again the season, and the St. Louis Blues and Senators within striking distance of last place overall, it was not unexpected that head coaches of the three teams were ranked tops in fighting for their job.

Oilers’ bench boss Craig MacTavish was voted as the man whose job is most in jeopardy, with 36.4 per cent, while Ottawa’s Craig Hartsburg and St. Louis’s Andy Murray tied for second spot in the voting.

Calgary Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who continues to receive consideration as a potential Norris Trophy candidate as the league’s top defenceman, received the most votes for the league’s most overrated player with 22.2 per cent of the vote, and was far and away considered the league’s worst quote, receiving 50 per cent of the votes.

Here are the results from the second-annual Canwest NHL midseason poll.

1. Who is the NHL’s MVP at this point of the season?

a) Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins 18.2%

b) Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals 4.5%

c) Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks 0%

d) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins 27.3%

e) Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings 0%

2. Which team is the biggest disappointment?

a) Toronto Maple Leafs 0%

b) Edmonton Oilers 0%

c) Dallas Stars 54.5%

d) Ottawa Senators 45.5%

e) Tampa Bay Lightning 0%

Comment: “Dallas. They were the surprise team of last season’s playoffs. Now: duh!” Red Fisher, Montreal Gazette.

3. Which team is the biggest surprise?

a) Boston Bruins 91%

b) San Jose Sharks 0%

c) Chicago Blackhawks 9%

d) Vancouver Canucks 0%

e) New York Rangers 0%

Comment: “Seriously, did anyone expect the Bruins to be THIS good?” Jean Lefebvre, Calgary Herald.

4. Who has been the best off-season free-agent signing?

a) Marian Hossa, Detroit Red Wings 72.7%

b) Brian Campbell, Chicago Blackhawks 18.2

c) Markus Naslund, New York Rangers 0%

d) Kyle Wellwood, Vancouver Canucks 0%

e) Alex Auld, Ottawa Senators 0%

f) Other: Scott Clemmensen 9.1%

Comment: “[Hossa] always was a terrific player. Now he’s getting to show his skills on a terrific team.” Allen Panzeri, Ottawa Citizen.

5. Who has been the most disappointing off-season acquisition?

a) Jose Theodore, Washington Capitals 0%

b) Wade Redden, New York Rangers 18.2%

c) Eric Cole, Edmonton Oilers 0%

d) Brendan Morrison, Anaheim Ducks 0%

e) Sean Avery, Dallas Stars 81.8%

6. Which coach will be the next to be fired?

a) Craig MacTavish, Edmonton Oilers 36.4%

b) Craig Hartsburg, Ottawa Senators 27.3%

c) Andy Murray, St. Louis Blues 27.3%

d) Dave Tippett, Dallas Stars 9.1%

e) Wayne Gretzky, Phoenix Coyotes 0%

7. Most surprising storyline of the year?

a) Sean Avery’s comments 9.1%

b) Sundin saga drags on for six months 9.1%

c) Barry Melrose axed by Tampa so soon 36.4%

d) Resurgence of Chicago Blackhawks 27.3%

e) Brian Burke’s move to Toronto 0%

Comment: “Melrose. Many of us questioned his hiring, being out of coaching for so long, but who could have foreseen such a short tenure?” Jim Jamieson, The Province.

8. Player most likely to receive next suspension?

a) Derek Boogaard, Minnesota Wild 0%

b) Colton Orr, New York Rangers 36.4%

c) Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix Coyotes 54.5%

d) Shane O’Brien, Vancouver Canucks 0%

e) Donald Brashear, Washington Capitals 0%

f) Other: Chris Pronger, Anaheim Ducks 9.1%

9. Most surprising off-season free-agent that never signed?

a) Brendan Shanahan 90.9%

b) Jocelyn Thibault 0%

c) Yanic Perreault 9.1%

d) Geoff Sanderson 0%

e) Bryan Smolinski 0%

10. First team to clinch a playoff spot?

a) Detroit Red Wings 18.3%

b) New York Rangers 0%

c) Washington Capitals 0%

d) Boston Bruins 18.3%

e) San Jose Sharks 63.4%

11. Top candidate for rookie of the year?

a) Blake Wheeler, Boston Bruins 9.1%

b) Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks 18.2%

c) Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning 0%

d) Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets 54.5%

e) Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators 0%

f) Other: Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings 18.2%

12. Team most likely to finish in last place overall?

a) Tampa Bay Lightning 18.2%

b) New York Islanders 54.5%

c) Atlanta Thrashers 18.2%

d) St. Louis Blues 0%

e) Toronto Maple Leafs 0%

13. Who is the league’s best goaltender so far this season?

a) Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota Wild 45.4%

b) Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks 9.1%

c) Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins 36.4%

d) Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens 9.1%

e) Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers 0%

Comment: “Since [Backstrom’s] teammates rarely score, he knows he has to be fantastic every night.” Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald.

14. Which high profile player will be the first player traded in 2009?

a) Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators 18.2%

b) Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago Blackhawks 9.1%

c) Tomas Kaberle, Toronto Maple Leafs 27.3%

d) Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers 9.1%

e) Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild 27.3%

f) Other: Martin Havlat, Chicago Blackhawks 9.1%

15. Who will win the NHL scoring race?

a) Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins 0%

b) Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks 0%

c) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins 54.5%

d) Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers 0%

e) Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals 45.5%

Comment: “Malkin. He’s a young [Jaromir] Jagr. Hell get 100 assists and 30 goals. As long as he’s on the same team as Crosby, he can’t be shackled.” Edmonton Journal writer Jim Matheson.

16. Who is the league’s best fighter?

a) Derek Boogaard, Minnesota Wild 36.4%

b) Georges Laraque, Montreal Canadiens 54.5%

c) Eric Godard, Pittsburgh Penguins 0%

d) Donald Brashear, Washington Capitals 9.1%

e) Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix Coyotes 0%

17. Which GM will be the next to be fired?

a) Bryan Murray, Ottawa Senators 13.6%

b) Don Waddell, Atlanta Thrashers 40.9%

c) Brett Hull, Dallas Stars (co-GM) 27.3%

d) Brian Lawton, Tampa Bay Lightning 9.1%

e) Jacques Martin, Florida 9.1%

18. Which team is most likely to make a second-half surge/recovery?

a) Dallas Stars 63.6%

b) Tampa Bay Lightning 0%

c) Ottawa Senators 0%

d) Los Angeles Kings 9.1%

e) Edmonton Oilers 27.3%

19. Which team is most likely to crash back to earth?

a) Boston Bruins 36.4%

b) Chicago Blackhawks 0%

c) Detroit Red Wings 0%

d) San Jose Sharks 0%

e) New York Rangers 63.6%

20. Which players’ long-term injury hurt his team the most?

a) Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche 18.2%

b) Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils 0%

c) Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks 0%

d) Marian Gaborik, Minnesota Wild 22.7%

e) Brenden Morrow, Dallas Stars 40.9%

Comment: “Ordinarily, I’d say Brodeur or Luongo because they are the league’s premier goalies, but Sakic’s injury is compounded by the stupidity of it.” Allen Panzeri, Ottawa Citizen.

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